From GMM

Felipe Massa on Friday admitted his first appearance in a formula one paddock since his July accident had been "not easy".

The Brazilian was a mere spectator in the paddock, pitlane and on the Interlagos pitwall, where a year ago he won his home race and nearly the world championship in style.

"It's not easy, I have to say," Massa told reporters when asked how it felt to be watching his rivals rather than preparing to race them. "It would have been fantastic to come back at this race but we need to wait a little bit more," he said.

Massa told reporters that he needs to sit out racing for now because the risk of repeat injuries is too high. "It's better to be 100 per cent ready than to have another accident, and that's why we are waiting a little bit more," he said.

Visually, the recent plastic surgery to his forehead means there is now hardly any sign he sustained life threatening head injuries less than three months ago, and Massa confirmed that he is back to normal.

"I was pushing, I was not really slow, and everything was normal -- even the consistency was good," he said, referring to his test last Monday at the wheel of a 2007 Ferrari. "Now I can do everything like I was doing before," he added.

On another hand, Massa has been handed back his damaged helmet by F1's governing body on his return to the formula one paddock. The Ferrari driver said he will keep it intact with its "blood and everything broken".

After the accident, the FIA confiscated the Brazilian's damaged Schuberth helmet for investigations. Massa, 28, was given back the helmet at Interlagos.

"The hole is impressive," Massa is quoted as saying. "It was a big impact," he added, although he has no memory of being hit by the 800 gram steel suspension spring that had fallen off his countryman Rubens Barrichello's car.